[Kage-Jitsu 01]
Beatrix: It's nice to sit and eat lunch with you.
Cid: Uh huh.
Beatrix: An outdoor table filled with burgers. A clear stream of water flowing in the canal. The gentle wind. Two people eat together. A beautiful day, isn't it?
Cid: It's sure it.
Beatrix: Hm.
Cid: *Opening his notebook*
Beatrix: How is school?
Cid: Classes are great.
Beatrix: I see.
Cid: Uh huh.
Beatrix: *Taking a bite*
Cid: *Doodling*
Beatrix: *Chewing*
Cid: *Doodling*
Beatrix: *Chewing*
Cid: *Frowning. Erasing the content.*
Beatrix: *Drinking*
Cid: *Scratching his head. Doodling*
Beatrix: *Staring*
Cid: *Doodling*
Beatrix: Cid...
Cid: Hm?
Beatrix: Were you ignoring me?
Cid: I wasn't ignoring you.
Beatrix: Then, are you listening?
Cid: I'm listening.
Beatrix: You are?
Cid: I am.
Beatrix: Really?
Cid: Really.
Beatrix: I see. You are listening.
Cid: Yeah. I'm listening.
Beatrix: What are you drawing?
Cid: An idea I've never thought possible.
Beatrix: What is that?
Cid: The new height of fantasy and adventure mixing with a little reminiscence from a time once past.
Beatrix: That looks like an interesting concept.
Cid: It is interesting.
Beatrix: Is it for an assignment in your art class?
Cid: Not really.
Beatrix: Can I see it?
Cid: Yes. But only when the time comes.
Beatrix: Now I'm very curious.
Cid: *Smiling. Grab a burger and eat.*
Beatrix: How long I should wait until that time?
Cid: I can't say for sure. Probably a while, I'm struggling to come up with a specific characteristic for this.
Beatrix: Specific characteristic? Like a theme...for this work?
Cid: Yeah, that! It's something like that!
Beatrix: What do you have in mind?
Cid: I'm thinking of an existence with a blurry presence at first, then it slowly becomes more prominent while the insight is still engulfed by a dense layer of mystery. At the same time, it's robust and raw in nature.
Beatrix: That's quite a strange description. I'm not sure if I've ever heard or seen something like that.
Cid: Exactly.
Beatrix: So, this is something when being looked at, people believe they come to understand its meaning. But in reality, it's the other way. They know its appearance but at the same time, they don't know its true nature.
Cid: *Snapping his finger* Yup! Those words nearly got it!...I think...
Beatrix: Oh. This is difficult to grasp.
Cid: Obviously! That's what makes it so fun!
Beatrix: I'm glad you're having a good time.
Cid: *Grinning*
Beatrix: This is such a foreign concept to me. It's like asking someone who mastered the art of swordplay, but in turn, lacking the learning of magic usage to fight without a sword and only through the use of mana.
Cid: You can use hand-to-hand techniques...wait a second, hand-to-hand...close-quarter combat...martial art...oh? Oh! OOOOHHH! Ideas flourishing! This is what Natsume Kafka feels like!
Beatrix: I can fight barehand. Though it won't be as good, my commitment to the sword throughout the years is much more in-depth.
Cid: *Madly Doodling*
Beatrix: You found what you needed?
Cid: I did! Part of it! Man, that came out of nowhere but I'm glad it did! Now I just need some more finishing touches.
Beatrix: I'm glad. I don't think there's a way I can be anymore helpful to support the idea of your theme, Cid.
Cid: It's fine. This is a whole new concept of identity I just realized after all.
Beatrix: Okay. When the time is right, I'll come to you. I want to see your idea come true.
Cid: Thank you, Beatrix! I'll be sure to do that...when it crosses my mind.
Beatrix: *Smiling*
Cid: *Smiling*
Beatrix: Cid.
Cid: Hm?
Beatrix: In the evening, I will travel outside the capital for a while.
Cid: Eh? You're leaving?
Beatrix: No. Not leaving. A temporary journey I planned to make at the request of the forest spirits.
Cid: Oh. The forest spirits.
Beatrix: Yes. They have an urgent matter that requires my assistance to resolve.
Cid: *Nodding*
Beatrix: To be honest. If this journey didn't involve any danger, I would have liked for you to join me.
Cid: *Jolted slightly* That's nice. But I have school.
Beatrix: Yes, what a pity. I could have asked the school to give you some days off. Then we could use that time to train, first is your footing then next is to help you awaken that vast potential I see within you and polish it.
Cid: Sounds great. But I have really bad grades, all below the average. Actually, I'm at the bottom of the Academy. One day off and it's one hundred percent repeating a year for Cid Kagenou.
Beatrix: It matters not. People is good and bad at different things. Your grades will never change my perspective about you, Cid.
Cid: O-Okay. *Sweating*
Beatrix: You know, I have been wondering lately.
Cid: ?
Beatrix: I keep thinking of what would transpire had I found my niece, and she was here with us.
Cid: *Watching the melancholy look on her face*
Beatrix: I imagine she would act like her late mother. She would have loved to become friend with you. Then the atmosphere would fill with giggles during our chat.
Cid: ...
Beatrix: A happy little family, don't you think so?
Cid: Family?
Beatrix: *Blushing*
Cid: Huh?
Beatrix: O-Oh my. It seems I've been a bit restless. I just can't help it. Anyway, as I said, I'll be leaving this evening. Are you busy after this?
Cid: I don't have afternoon class today.
Beatrix: Then, maybe we can-
Cid: But I have an appointment with Princess Iris.
Beatrix: *Silence*
Cid: It's an important duty. Something only an average citizen like me can do, she said.
Beatrix: Is that so? I understand.
Cid: *Standing up* Well, I'll be on my way then.
Beatrix: Eh? You're leaving now?
Cid: It's almost time. I'll take a hamburger with me.
Beatrix: *Looking at her own stack of food* I still have a lot.
Cid: Yeah. That's a lot.
Beatrix: Cid. Take one more. For the Princess.
Cid: *Receiving a second burger* Thanks. Will do that. Oh right! I forgot my drink. Ah darn, the ice melted away. And I'd only took a sip.
Beatrix: Ask the store for another cup?
Cid: Nah, it'll be a waste. Beatrix, is your cup still half full?
Beatrix: Empty. Might need to replenish it before leaving, too.
Cid: Ice?
Beatrix: Lots.
Cid: We're having the same drink, right?
Beatrix: *Nodding*
Cid: In that case, use mine.
Beatrix: Eh?
Cid: I don't plan to drink this anymore. You can have it. Might as well saving up some zeni for your travel. *Taking her cup. Pouring his drink in. Placing it back. Putting in the straw* Here. All done! Use the straw too since you didn't have one.
Beatrix: Is that alright with you?
Cid: I don't see any problem with it. I'd only took a sip so there's plenty for you.
Beatrix: That's not what I meant. But alright, if you say so.
Cid: Well then. See you later.
Beatrix: See you later.
Watching his back become fainter in the distance, she turned to the straw on her cup. Her lip touched it as she took another sip.
The weather was cool in the afternoon. Yet, for some reason, Beatrix's cheeks were a bit hot.
It was a pleasant feeling, she thought.
/
Author's Note: I'll just leave this snippet here, in this dialogue format, and quietly entrust it to your imagination of a Chibi scenario between Cid and Beatrix.
Thank you for reading. Take Care!